End-gate fastener.



11o/795,959. g PATBNTED AUG. 1, 1905.

w. .11. CLARKE.

BND GATE FASTBNBR.

ArPmoA'noN FILED 1120.19, 1904.

Inventor Wmses l ZZ WZZIUWKIQZQ,

. i l I l Atom-9g UNITED STATES PALTENT OFFICE.

END-,GATE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 195.

Application led December 19,1904. Serial No. 237,510.

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. CLARKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Weatherford, in the county of Parker and State -of rIexas,have invented a new and useful End-Gate Fastener, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to devices for securing the end-gates of wagons,and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction andincrease the efficiency of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical operation, it beingunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, asvarious changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of theparts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of therear or tail end of a wagon-box with the Hoor partially in section andwith the improved end-gate fastening means applied. Fig. 2 is avperspective view, enlarged, of the fastening means detached. Fig. 3 is adetached perspective view', enlarged, of the stop-plate. Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the device.

The wagon-box 10 and end-gateor tailboard 11 are of the usual form, theend-gate mounted to swing upon a rod 12, extending transversely throughthe sides of the wagonbox, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The improved device comprises a bar 13, having a resilient arm 14,provided with an intermediate lateral shoulder 15 and adapted forinsertion through a comparatively contracted aperture 16 through the oorof the wagon-box 10 and expansible therein to cause the shoulder 15 tobear against the under edge of the aperture. The aperture is preferablyprovided with a metal wear-plate 22, and the shoulder 15 bears beneaththe under surface of this plate, the Wood ofthe wagon-floor being cutaway to provide a recess for the shoulder, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.By this means when the end-gate 11 is in closed position the lower endof the bar 13 is forced into the contracted aperture 16, carrying thearm 14 with it and compressing the same toward the bar until theshoulder 15 passes through the aperture when the expanding of the armcauses the shoulder to bear beneath the adjacent edge of the apertureand firmly locks the device to the Hoor of the Wagon just outside theend-gate and eiectually prevents the swinging open of the gate. The arm14 may be mounted to swing from the bar and rendered automaticallyexpansible, as by a spring 18, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or the arm may beformed integral with the bar, as in Fig. 4, as may be preferred. Whenthe fastening is to be removed, it is obvious that a simple compressionof the free ends of the arm and bar will release it. The resiliency ofthe bar and arm is sufficient to retain the device in position andprevent accidental displacement under the severe jarring or vibrationsto which the wagon will be subjected while in use, and

the device may be suspended loosely from the Y rod 12 by a chain 19,passing over the rod and connected by its ends in eyes 2O 21 in thevfree ends of the bar 13 and arm 14. By this means the device will notbecome detached and lost when the end-gate is open.

A shoulder 23 may be formed on the bar 13 to coact with the shoulder 15on the arm 14 if required to increase the holding force.

It will thus be observed that a very simple,v effective, and inexpensivedevice is produced which may be readily applied to the wagonboX andquickly connected and disconnected when required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. As a newarticle, a fastener for wagon end-gates comprising a bar having aresilient arm provided with an intermediate lateral shoulder and adaptedfor insertion into au aperture in the wagon-body adjacent to theend-gate and expansible therein, to cause said shoulder to bear beneaththe edge of the aperture.

2. As a new article, a fastener for wagon end-gates comprising a barhaving a resilient arm provided with an intermediate lateral shoulderand a chain connecting the free ends of said bar and its resilient arm.

3. As a new article, a fastener for wagon end-gates consisting of a barhaving an arm swinging therefrom at one end and provided with anintermediate lateral shoulder, and a spring interposed between said barand arm.

4. As. a new article, a fastener for wagon end-gates Consisting of a barhaving an intermediate lateral shoulder, an arm swinging by one end fromsaid bar and provided with an intermediate lateral shoulder, and aspring operating between said bar and arm.

V5. As a new article, a fastenerv for wagon end-gates consisting of abar having an intermediate lateral shoulder, an arm swinging by one endfrom said bar and provided with an intermediate lateral shoulder` aspring' operating between said bar and arm and a chain connecting saidbar and arm at their free ends.

6. In a wagon end-gate fastening the oombination with the wagon-bodyhaving an aperture in its ioor and a rod disposed transversely throughits sides, the end-gate being mounted to swing upon said rod, of a barhaving a resilient arm provided with an intermedi-ate lateral shoulderand adapted for insertion through said aperture and eXpansible thereinwith said shoulder bearing beneath the edge of said aperture.

7 In a wagon end-gate fastening the combination with the wagon-bodyhaving an aperture in its floor and a rod disposed transversely throughits sides, the end-gate being mounted to swing upon said rod,of a barhaving a resilient arm provided with an intermediate lateral shoulderand adapted for insertion through said aperture and expansible thereinwith said shoulder bearing beneath the edge of said aperture and a chainconnected terminally to the free ends of said bar and arm and leadingover said rod.

8. In a wagon end-gate fastening the combination with the wagon-bodyhaving an aperture in its ioor, and with a wear-plate provid ed with anapertu resmaller than the wagonbody aperture and disposed thereover, arod disposed transversely through the sides of the wagon-body, and anend-gate mounted to swing upon said rod, of a bar having a re silientarm provided with an intermediate lateral shoulder for insertion throughsaid aperture and eXpansible therein to Cause said shoulder to bearbeneath the edge of the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM K. CLARKE.

